DENVER—National park and resort concessioner Xanterra Parks & Resorts has received the National Park Service (NPS) 2006 Environmental Achievement Award for its performance at the Zion Lodge in Zion National Park. The NPS Environmental Achievement Award recognizes superior accomplishments in environmental stewardship. Zion Lodge also received the award in 2004. Xanterra also has received National Park Service Environmental Achievement Awards for environmental stewardship at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, Yellowstone National Park and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. The 2006 award was presented by Fran Mainella, director of the National Park Service. “Xanterra at Zion...

ALSIP, ILL.—Litetronics International Inc. announces an innovation in cold cathode fluorescent technology. All Litetronics Micro-Brite decorative 3- and 4-watt candelabra base lamps are now dimmable. Litetronics has successfully miniaturized its patented cold cathode technology to bring candelabra-based Micro-Brite into the dimming family. Now it is possible to have the decorative look of candelabra lighting, the long life and energy savings of fluorescent lamps, and the ability to adjust the light level for any situation. The 3- and 4-watt Micro-Brite candelabra base lamps have a 25,000-hour life and offer more than 80 percent in energy savings over incandescent lighting....

BROADVIEW, ILL.—Air Cycle Corp. introduces its EasyPak line of products to provide a simple way to recycle lamps, ballasts, and batteries, while complying with today’s changing regulations. Each container includes instructions printed in English and Spanish and one price includes shipping costs to the recycling center, recycling fees, and a certificate of recycling. The lamp boxes can hold straight fluorescent lamps up to 8 feet in length, u-shape fluorescent lamps, or high intensity discharge lamps. The battery container holds up to 55 pounds of dry cell batteries and the ballast container up to 55 pounds of non-PCB containing...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—The General Electric Company (GE), through its Consumer & Industrial business, and the Nichia Corp. announced a strategic alliance agreement to support GELcore, LLC, based in Cleveland, Ohio. GELcore, formed in 1999, was previously a joint venture between GE and the Emcore Corp. of Somerset, N.J. GE purchased Emcore’s 49 percent interest in the joint venture for $100 million, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to invest in LED technology and the future of lighting. This agreement combines GELcore’s LED system strengths in the Transportation, Signage, Specialty Illumination, and General Illumination segments with Nichia’s extensive phosphor and optoelectronics products,...

NATIONAL REPORT—The next time you think about throwing away a fluorescent lamp, think twice. Fluorescents contain a small amount of hazardous material—mercury. In fact, it is the mercury that conducts the charge that produces light. When disposed of improperly, the mercury can cause great harm to not only the environment, but to every link in the food chain—humans included. As of November 2004, according to a report released by the Association of Lighting and Mercury Recyclers, 70 percent of the mercury lamps used by businesses were not being recycled. Throughout the United States, regulations vary on proper disposal of fluorescent...

RIVERSIDE, N.J.—Sea Gull Lighting Products LLC, a leading manufacturer of Energy Star qualified lighting fixtures, has released a 90-page, full-color catalog highlighting the company’s line of energy-efficient lighting products. A two-time Energy Star Partner of the Year award winner, Sea Gull Lighting currently markets more than 500 decorative products bearing the Energy Star mark—the most, the company says, of any manufacturer in the lighting industry. The Energy Star mark also ensures that these fixtures have met the strict energy efficiency guidelines and passed the rigorous testing requirements set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department...

NATIONAL REPORT—Every hotel owner is required to provide exit signage throughout the hotel. Many exit signs today use incandescent and fluorescent/compact fluorescent lighting technology. These older signs consume more than 350 kilowatt-hours and cost $28 each annually to operate. They also require frequent maintenance because of the short life span of the lamps that light them. Thanks to light-emitting diode (LED) technology, hoteliers need not spend as much money on energy and maintenance. Many manufacturers today sell exit signs that incorporate LED lighting that are easy to install and maintain. These exit signs start at about $40 a...

NATIONAL REPORT—Everyone is familiar with Motel 6’s “We’ll leave the light on for you” campaign. It was definitely a hit. What is not such a good idea is when your guests leave the light on for you. Research conducted several years ago through the California Energy Commission’s Public Interest Energy Research Program confirmed what most hotel operators already know: Many guests leave the lights on when they leave the room and use the bathroom lights as a night-light. You can’t blame your guests, especially seniors, for wanting the extra light but when the lights are on when nobody is there, or...

ALSIP, ILL.—Litetronics International Inc. introduces its PFT (Plug-in Compact Fluorescent Tube) family of products. The PFT lamps are pin-based compact fluorescent lamps. PFT lamps are available with a two-pin starter—integral to lamps with magnetic ballasts. Litetronics’ other models have a four-pin starter for use with electronic ballasts. The two-pin PFT lamps have a 10,000-hour average rated life. Litetronics’ four-pin lamps have 15,000-hour average rated life. When compared to incandescent bulbs, PFT lamps can use 80 percent less energy and last 13 times as long. Compared to other compacts, the four-pin PFT lamps offer a 33 percent longer life....

NATIONAL REPORT—This article will provide hoteliers with a relatively comprehensive guide to take advantage of the most cost-effective way to save lighting energy and perhaps improve the quality of the hotel’s perceived product. Before starting on this project, go to a Grainger’s Equipment Supply store and purchase a $30 General Electric light meter. This meter reads light levels in increments referred to as “foot-candles.” For those in Europe, the meter will measure using a different scale referred to as “lux.” A foot-candle is a unit of measure of the intensity of light falling on a surface equal to...